Hoosic Valley girls fall short in title game

TROY >> Hoosic Valley’s season ended with a 47-36 loss in the Class C state championship Sunday at Hudson Valley Community College.

The Indians were looking to take home the school’s second state championship of the weekend following the Hoosic Valley boys state championship victory on Saturday. History was not to be made, however, in Walter Dorman’s final game as head coach.

Chautauqua Lake had too much size for Hoosic Valley to battle past. The Indians were outrebounded 47-26 and Chautauqua was able to score too easily in the paint.

“They had too many bigs,” Dorman said. “If they just had one maybe we could battle past, but they had three that were bigger than anyone we have.”

Lauren Madigan was not sure if the size discrepancy was the difference, but it was certainly a factor.

“I’m not going to blame the game on anything,” she said. “But I wish we had a few more inches on our team in that game. We couldn’t stop their post players without following them.”

Ashton Albanesius and Jenna Einink were dominant down low, scoring 16 and 13 points respectively for Chautauqua Lake. Albanesius made eight of 10 from the free throw line, and Einink connected on both her attempts.

Foul shots proved to be another downfall for Hoosic Valley. The Indians made just 12 of 28 free throws, including shooting 6-14 in the final quarter. Chautauqua, on the other hand, knocked down 16 of 22 foul shots.

“We couldn’t make a foul shot today,” Dorman said. “You can’t win a state championship if you can’t make foul shots.”

Hoosic Valley jumped out to a 6-0 lead off of consecutive 3-pointers from Laura McGreevey. Chautauqua Lake would battle bac. The opening period ended with Einink rattling home a 3-pointer at the buzzer, giving the Thunderbirds an 11-10 lead that it would never relinquish.

Chautauqua Lake would score the first six points of the second quarter to extend the lead. Midway through the period, Madigan would pull down a defensive rebound and take it coast to coast. She finished a layup and was fouled. Madigan made the free throw to bring Hoosic Valley within three at 17-14, but that was as close as the game would get.

Also in the second period, Hoosic Valley’s second leading scorer Alyssa Paul picked up her third personal foul. She was forced to sit the remainder of the half, as well as the entire third quarter.

Chautauqua Lake once again scored the first six points of the third quarter and jumped out to a 29-14 lead. Hoosic Valley would continue to fight for the remainder of the quarter, but trailed 35-24 entering the fourth.

Madigan brought the Indians to within six points with a free throw midway through the quarter, but Hoosic Valley would get no closer. Chautauqua Lake’s 2-3 zone and size forced Hoosic Valley into setting for jump shots on most of its possessions. The Indians struggled to knock down its shots, shooting 10-46 from the field.

“They had the three bigs, it was awful hard to get inside,” Dorman said. “We did the best we could, but I can’t teach height.”

Chauqua Lake responded every time Hoosic Valley threatened late in the game, often by making its free throws.

Hoosic Valley could have become the only Section II school to have its boys and girls basketball teams win a state title in the same season. Despite coming up short in its final game, the Indians exceeded all expectations.

“We never thought we would get here,” Madigan said. “But we worked really hard and we got here. Someone had to win and someone had to lose, and it just wasn’t out day. We played our hearts out, I’m proud of every single girl on this team.”

Madigan led Hoosic Valley with 10 points.

“I’m just grateful to be a part of this program,” she said. “To know allthese people and to be able to play with them has been truly amazing.”

Dorman was as proud of his final team as any he has coached.

“I’m so proud of my girls and everything they accomplished,” he said. “The seniors were an incredible group”